Editing Medina County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Medina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Medina County 
 | state                = Texas 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1848 
 | seat wl              = Hondo 
 | largest city wl      = Hondo 
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1335 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1325 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.2 
 | area percentage      = 0.7 
 | census yr            = 2020  
 | pop                  = 50748
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto 
 | ex image             = Medina county tx courthouse.jpg 
 | ex image size        = 250 
 | ex image cap         = The Medina County Courthouse in Hondo 
 | web                  = www.medinacountytexas.org 
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Medina River]]
 | district             = 23rd
}}

'''Medina County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 50,748.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Medina County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48325|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hondo, Texas|Hondo]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is named for the [[Medina River]]. The extreme northern part of the county lies within the [[Edwards Plateau]], which elevates into the [[Texas Hill Country]]. The [[Medina Dam]], the fourth-largest in the nation when completed in 1913, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcm10 Ruben E. Ochoa, "Medina County"], ''Handbook of Texas Online'', accessed August 3, 2010</ref>  The [[irrigation]] project, creating [[Medina Lake]], was built by 1500 skilled workers who worked in shifts operating 24 hours a day to complete the dam in two years. Medina County is part of the [[San Antonio]], TX [[San Antonio metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
The county is named after the Medina River, which was named in 1689 after Spanish cartographer [[Pedro de Medina]] by Spanish explorer [[Alonso de Leon]], the first European to encounter the river.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=Lola Orellano |title=GENERAL ALONSO DE LEÓN'S EXPEDITION DIARIES INTO TEXAS (1686-1690): A LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE SPANISH MANUSCRIPTS WITH SEMIPALEOGRAPHIC TRANSCRIPTIONS AND ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS |pages=274, 277|url=https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/148454/Norris.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}}</ref> Because Pedro de Medina derived his surname from the Andalusian city of [[Medina-Sidonia]], the name Medina comes from the [[Arabic]] for city.

The [[Texas Legislature]] formed Medina County on February 12, 1848, and enlarged it on February 1, 1850, using land taken from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]]. [[Castroville, Texas|Castroville]] was the county seat, and the county erected the first permanent courthouse there in 1854. The county seat moved to Hondo in 1892, and a new courthouse was completed there in 1893.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ochoa|first1=Ruben E.|title=Medina County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcm10|website=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>

=== Texas-Indian Wars ===
The county was home to tribes such as the [[Lipan Apache]], [[Coahuiltecan]], and [[Tonkawa]].

The county was subject to frequent [[Comanche]] and [[Kiowa]] raids during the 1860s and 1870s. On a June 11, 1873 raid, Comanches attacked four settlers near Hondo. These raids were feared by the local residents, but by 1875, the raiding had stopped. Although the Comanche were gone, other tribes still were raiding the county frequently. 
The last Indian raid of the county happened on April 22, 1877, when 19-year-old Joe Wilton was killed by Indians near [[Devine, Texas]].

== Geography ==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1335|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|9.2|sqmi}} (0.7%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

=== Major highways ===
* [[Image:I-35 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35 (Texas)|Interstate 35]]
* [[Image:US 90.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 90 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 90]]
* [[Image:Texas 16.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 16|State Highway 16]]
* [[Image:Texas 132.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 132|State Highway 132]]
* [[Image:Texas 173.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 173|State Highway 173]]

=== Adjacent counties ===
* [[Bandera County, Texas|Bandera County]] (north)
* [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] (east)
* [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] (southeast)
* [[Frio County, Texas|Frio County]] (south)
* [[Uvalde County, Texas|Uvalde County]] (west)

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1850= 909
|1860= 1838
|1870= 2078
|1880= 4492
|1890= 5730
|1900= 7783
|1910= 13415
|1920= 11679
|1930= 13989
|1940= 16106
|1950= 17013
|1960= 18904
|1970= 20249
|1980= 23164
|1990= 27312
|2000= 39304
|2010= 46006
|2020= 50748
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Medina County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Medina County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48325&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Medina County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48325&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Medina County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48325&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|19,919
|21,408
|style='background: #ffffe6; |22,324
|50.68%
|46.53%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.99%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|801
|913
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,252
|2.04%
|1.98%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.47%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|144
|146
|style='background: #ffffe6; |158
|0.37%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|117
|272
|style='background: #ffffe6; |215
|0.30%
|0.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|17
|24
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38
|0.04%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|50
|28
|style='background: #ffffe6; |188
|0.13%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
|383
|344
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,118
|0.97%
|0.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.20%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|17,873
|22,871
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25,455
|45.47%
|49.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |50.16%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''39,304'''
|'''46,006'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''50,748'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000,  39,304 people, 12,880 households, and 10,136 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 14,826 housing units had an average density of {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 79.38% White, 2.20% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.48% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. About 45.47% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 12,880 households, 39.1% had children under 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were not families. About 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.0% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 104.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,063, and for a family was $40,288. Males had a median income of $27,045 versus $21,734 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,210. About 12.00% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.80% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

== Communities ==

=== Cities ===
{{div col}}
* [[Castroville, Texas|Castroville]]
* [[Devine, Texas|Devine]]
* [[Hondo, Texas|Hondo]] (county seat)
* [[LaCoste, Texas|LaCoste]]
* [[Lytle, Texas|Lytle]] (mostly in [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] and a small part in [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]])
* [[Natalia, Texas|Natalia]]
* [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] (mostly in [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] and a small part in [[Comal County, Texas|Comal County]])
{{div col end}}

=== Census-designated places ===
* [[D'Hanis, Texas|D'Hanis]]
* [[Lake Medina Shores, Texas|Lake Medina Shores]] (partly in [[Bandera County, Texas|Bandera County]])
* [[Yancey, Texas|Yancey]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===
* [[Dunlay, Texas|Dunlay]]
* [[Mico, Texas|Mico]]
* [[Pearson, Texas|Pearson]]
* [[Rio Medina, Texas|Rio Medina]]

=== Ghost towns ===
* [[New Fountain, Texas|New Fountain]]
* [[Quihi, Texas|Quihi]]

== Education ==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48325_medina/DC20SD_C48325.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48325_medina/DC20SD_C48325.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Medina County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48325_medina/DC20SD_C48325_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[D'Hanis Independent School District]]
* [[Devine Independent School District]]
* [[Hondo Independent School District]]
* [[Lytle Independent School District]]
* [[Medina Valley Independent School District]]
* [[Natalia Independent School District]]
* [[Northside Independent School District]]
* [[Utopia Independent School District]]

The designated community college is [[Southwest Texas Junior College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Hondo Creek, Medina County, TX IMG_3309.JPG|Hondo Creek is located south of Hondo.
Image:Entrance to Hondo Creek Ranch, Medina County, TX IMG_3312.JPG|Entrance to Hondo Creek Ranch
Image:Medina County, TX, Museum IMG_3302.JPG|The Medina County Museum is located off [[U.S. Route 90 in Texas|U.S. Route 90]] in Hondo.
Image:Medina County, TX, Jail IMG_3298.JPG|The Medina County Jail
Image:Medina, TX, Electric Cooperative IMG_3299.JPG|Medina Electric Cooperative in Hondo
Image:Scorched corn fields, Castroville, TX, 2011 IMG_3231.JPG|Scorched cornfield in [[Castroville, Texas|Castroville]]
Image:Medina Valley United Methodist Church, Castroville, TX IMG 3236.JPG|Medina Valley [[United Methodist]] Church in Castroville
</gallery>

== Politics ==
{{PresHead|place=Medina County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|17,464|6,950|203|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|15,642|6,773|242|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,085|4,634|527|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,079|4,784|186|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,480|5,147|110|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,389|4,322|115|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,590|4,025|258|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,710|3,880|787|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,912|3,650|2,223|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,722|4,227|80|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,737|3,053|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,742|3,034|112|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,252|3,681|55|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,059|1,507|83|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,058|2,471|722|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,583|3,408|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,028|2,325|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,668|1,516|17|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,204|1,840|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,492|1,875|153|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,607|1,469|313|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,480|1,749|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|969|2,050|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|515|2,516|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,243|1,400|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|816|986|477|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|772|519|398|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|650|758|33|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|219|648|295|Texas}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Medina County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Mason-Rusk)#Medina County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Medina County]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Further reading ===
* Holt, Jr., C.L.R. (1959). ''Geology and ground-water resources of Medina County, Texas'' [U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1422]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
* Castro Colonies Heritage Association, ''The History of Medina County, Texas'', Dallas, TX: National Share Graphics, 1983).
* Houston B. Eggen, ''History of Public Education in Medina County, Texas, 1848–1928'' (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1950).
* Cyril Matthew Kuehne, S.M., ''Ripples from Medina Lake'', San Antonio, TX: Naylor, 1966.
* Bobby D. Weaver, ''Castro's Colony: Empresario Development in Texas, 1842–1865'', College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1985.

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Medina County, Texas}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150915152632/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48325 ''Medina County Profile'' from the Texas Association of Counties]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Medina County, Texas
|North     = [[Bandera County, Texas|Bandera County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]]
|Southeast = [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]]
|South     = [[Frio County, Texas|Frio County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Uvalde County, Texas|Uvalde County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Medina County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}

{{Coord|29.35|-99.11|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Medina County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1848]]
[[Category:Greater San Antonio]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]